Free Home Design Tools: Exterior Colors and Rug Sizes
Two quick helpers for decisions that are easy to get wrong: which trim and door colors go with your siding, and what size rug your room actually needs. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
Exterior Color Pairing Helper
Choose the main color of your siding or brick and the color of your roof. The helper suggests trim, front door and accent colors that work with it, and shows a simple preview.
How the suggestions are chosen
- The pairings are my own suggestions, based on common combinations in the makeovers on this site. They are a starting point, not a rule.
- The roof is the one color you usually cannot change, so trim whites lean cool next to a gray or black roof and warm next to a brown or red one.
- Paint looks lighter and brighter outdoors than on a small chip. Always test large samples on two sides of the house and look at them in morning and evening light before you buy.
- The colors in the preview are approximate screen colors, not specific paint brands.
See it on real houses: before and after exterior paint ideas, dark trim with warm wood and front door makeovers.
Rug Size Calculator
Enter the room and what the rug goes under. The calculator works out the ideal rug size from common sizing rules and shows the standard sizes that fit.
The sizing rules behind the numbers
- Living rooms: leave about 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm) of bare floor between the rug and the walls (Fibreworks; Country Living). With the front legs on, 8 by 10 feet is the usual fit; with all furniture on, 9 by 12 feet or larger (Safavieh). A rug in front of the sofa should be at least about as long as the sofa (The Home Depot rug size guide).
- Dining: add 24 to 36 inches (60 to 90 cm) to every side of the table so chairs stay on the rug when pulled out; 30 inches is a good middle (Fibreworks).
- Beds: allow 30 to 36 inches (75 to 90 cm) of rug on each side and at the foot of the bed, with the rug under at least the lower two-thirds of the bed (Fibreworks).
- Standard sizes checked: 5×8, 6×9, 8×10, 9×12, 10×14 and 12×15 feet (about 150×240 to 365×460 cm).
Sources: Fibreworks custom size rug guide, Country Living: how to choose the right rug size, Safavieh: how to arrange an area rug, The Home Depot: selecting proper rug size (PDF).
Styling the room around it? See how to decorate around a black sofa and open-plan layouts with an island.
These tools give general guidance. Measure your own room and check product sizes before you buy.